Gutter hanger



Feb. 20, 1962 J. H. BLAYDEN 3,022,029"

GUTTER HANGER Filed May 5, 1959 IN V EN TOR.

JAMES H. BLAYDEN A'r'ronws United States Patent 3,022,029 CUTTER HANGER James H. Blayden, Pittsburgh, Pa., assiguor to Aluminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May '5, 1959, Ser. No. 811,051 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-482) This invention relates to gutter and trough hangers, and has for its object to provide such a hanger in the form of a single piece which lends itself to complete fabrication from sheet metal.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hanger of the above type for suspending a gutter in use which avoids welded connections and perforation of the gutter.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a hanger of the above type for suspending a gutter in use which allows for the free expansion and contraction of the gutter as a result of temperature changes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will present themselves on consideration of the following description, when read in conjunction with the following illustrations in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my improved hanger;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing a gutter attached to the wall of a building by a hanger such as shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 represents a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a semi-circular eaves trough.

In the illustrations where like reference numerals identify similar elements throughout the several views, 2 indicates generally the gutter hanger, and is shown in operative position (FIG. 2) in association with a gutter of my desired cross-sectional shape indicated generally by the numeral 4. The hanger 2 is preferably fabricated from a rib-reinforced stamping as shown in FIG. 1.

Gutter 4 is in the form of an open trough-shaped member having a substantially fiat bottom portion 6 and a substantially vertical upstanding contiguous rear wall 8 folded inwardly and downwardly adjacent its upper marginal edge to provide a downwardly open groove or head 10. A front wall of the gutter is contiguous with the substantially flat bottom and consists of substantially flat, perpendicular surfaces 12 and 14 connected by an ogee-curved surface 16, the upper vertical surface 14 being turned inwardly in a substantially horizontal plane, then downwardly and outwardly to form a substantially channel-shaped re-entrant marginal bead 18.

According to the present invention, gutter hanger 2 in the form of a single piece comprises a rear attaching member 20 for abutting engagement with the exposed surface of the fascia board 22, where the nails or screws 24, or similar fasteners, are employed to secure the hanger 2 in gutter-supporting relationship in respect to a building structure. The said rear member 20 is further provided along its opposite marginal edges with preferably spaced lower outwardly-struck, hook-shaped members 26 for engagement with the rear downwardly open groove along the upper marginal edge or bead of the rear wall 8 of the gutter section 4. It will be observed that the outwardly-struck marginal lower edge provides substantially flush bearing of the rear vertical wall 8 of the gutter section 4 supported thereby against the exposed fascia board.

A supporting arm or bar 28 forwardly extending with reference to said rear member 20 and integral therewith, spans the trough of said gutter 4. Where desired, the said arm 28 may slope downwardly substantially as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A generally hook-shaped terminus 30 is employed for engagement within the reentrant front marginal bead 18 of gutter 4. As shown .inVFIG. 2, the forward end of hanger 2 is bent upwardly at 32 to provide a vertical portion paralleling the vertical portion 14 of the gutter and again bent horizontally at 34 for -terminating within the re-entrant marginal head .18.

.FIG. 3 is illustrative of a modified form of gutter section in association with a hanger in the manner illustrated .and described for .FIG. 2. In this embodiment of the invention, the gutter section 36 is substantially semi-cir cular in cross-sectiou,-the rear edge of the gutter in this instance being bent inwardly and downwardly to provide a downwardly open hook-shaped groove or head 38 similar to groove 10 of the previously described gutter section 4. The front marginal edge of gutter section 36 is bent outwardly at 40, upwardly at 42, and then rearwardly and downwardly to provide a second upwardly open groove or bead 44. The supporting arm 28, having its forward terminus modified, is provided with an upwardly extending flat portion or tank 46 for engagement within the upwardly open groove 44 along the front marginal edge of gutter 36.

Because of a variation in temperature, roof gutters are subject to considerable expansion and contraction. This action can shear bolt or rivet connections between the gutter and the hanger thereby perforating the gutter and in general weakening the structure. An important feature of my hanger is that it avoids welded connections or similar rigid fastening elements thereby leaving the gutter free to slide laterally during expansion and contraction.

Having illustrated the described invention in terms or specific embodiments of the same, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention should not be limited in any way, except as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a gutter having inwardly facing rear and front wall marginal downwardly open beads and a one-piece rigid hanger therefor, said hanger being provided with a rear attaching member for abutting attachment to a substantially fiat vertical building fascia board and incorporating two spaced lower, outwardly struck, upwardly open hook-shaped members for engagement within the downwardly open rear wall marginal bead, and a rigid integral supporting arm centrally located between the hook-shaped members and extending forwardly with reference to said rear member, said sup porting arm having an upwardly extending angularly disposed terminus for engagement within the downwardly open front wall marginal bead.

2. A one-piece rigid hanger for an open trough-shaped gutter characterized by having front and rear inwardly directed, downwardly open marginal bead configurations defining therebetween open entrance to the gutter, the hanger comprising a substantially fiat attaching member adapted to abut against and be attachable to a substantially flat fascia surface, a supporting arm extending forwardly from and rigidly supported by said attaching member, said supporting arm having an upwardly extending terminus angularly disposed for entrance into the downwardly open front marginal bead of the gutter section to provide a support therefor, said attaching member also having a lower marginal forwardly struck, upwardly open hook-shaped configuration below and on either side of the forwardly extending supporting arm, and said latter hook-shaped configuration being upwardly engageable within the downwardly open rear marginal bead of the gutter section to provide rear edge support therefor.

3. A one-piece rigid hanger for an open trough-shaped gutter characterized by having front and rear inwardly directed, downwardly open marginal bead configurations defining therebetween open entrance to the gutter, the

hanger comprising a substantially flat attaching member adapted to abut against and be attachable to a substandownwardly extending integral hook-shaped configura- 10 tion below and on either side of the forwardly extending rigid supporting arm, and said hook-shaped configurations being forwardly offset a distance substantially equal to the inwardly directed downwardly open rear marginal 4. head of the gutter section and upwardly engageable therewith to provide rear edge support for the gutter section in flush upper rear edge contact of the gutter section with the fascia surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,431,012 Alig Nov. 1 8, 1947 2,536,704 Shea Jan. 2, 1951 2,895,694 Graving July 21', 1959 V FOREIGN PATENTS 858,932

France May 20, 1940 

